If I Was US Minister of Energy

here are the issues...

1. Recognizing that speculation on oil has run up the price...and also
recognizing that 2/3 of the oil that is bid on is oil that originates and
ends up in foreign countries thus being beyond any reach of American
governmental regulation...meaning that all the ideas of how to break down
the speculation process...are doomed. So I would pay no mind to that.

2. We consume more then 1/5 of the oil on the planet..but with India and
China rising as economic forces and with the expense on infrastructure in
those countries..the worldwide demand will rise rapidly over the next 20
years likely causing shortages.

What I would do....

1. We do have some untapped oil field capacity in this country but not
nearly as much as some of my fellow Conservafascist friends seem to suggest.
There is likely not very much deposit space left in the Continental US. The
Gulf of Mexico and the North Slope of Alaska probably is where what remains
is at. I would ramp up drilling in those areas.

2. ANWR would be drilled. The capacity limit there is probably in the
range of 800,000 barrels per day. I would pay no mind to environazis that
do not deal with reality.

3 I would increase refinery capacity until daily consumption averages no
more then 80% of refinery capacity. This would also mean Federal
deregulation from Transportation to Energy to dive down overhead costs that
are typically passed down to the consumers at the gas pump anyhow. This
would also ease pressures on state governments. It would also allow for
increased production when neccessary...something sorely lacking today.

4. Eliminate the Federal Gasoline tax almost entirely. It was formed in
order to build Federal highways accross the country. Those are complete.
Remove the tax at the Federal level almost entirely. Keep a small amount
(perhaps a nickle) for national highway maintenance or pass those costs
directly to the states and allow the states to keep a small portion of the
tax. This would lower the overhead on gasoline by 13-17 cents per gallon
immediately. At penalty of huge governmental taxation Big Oil would not be
allowed to run up profits by pocketing the difference.

5. Form up a bidding process to allow increase of nuclear power. The goal
would be to replace as many oil fired electric power plants with nuclear
power as possible. These plants would be semi-autonomous private entities
with heavy duty governmental oversite under the theory that they serve the
national interest...but you don't need a civil servant running the reactor.

6. Short term offer up the sale of military nuclear reactors to local
municipalities as mini power stations. As we decomission aircraft carriers
and attack submarines those ships have significant power generating
capability. In the aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake the US Navy did
use a Nimitz class CVN to generate power for the city of San Francisco for a
short period. The ability exists. The reactors exist. Right now what we
do is remove the fuel and components and bury them in Eastern Washington.
This is a waste of significant resource. A terrific job for the US Navy
Reserve.

7. We have vast natural gas deposits within this nation. If I was the
Supreme Bossman I would make it a requirement that all new automobiles sold
in the United States have dual tank capability not later then 2015. The
technology is already existent. It works. Now normalize it.

8. Failing all of that invade and conquer Canada and Mexico. Conduct a
wide scale bombing campaign on Iran to completely destroy their
infrastructure and cut off major population centers so that we can seize
their oil fields as well. If Russia balks at it move 6 Ohio Class
submarines into the Gulf of Alaska with Counter-Force mission objectives to
launch a first strike on Centra Russia's land based nuclear arsenal.

I am guessing step 8 doesn't need to happen though if 1-7 are followed.
--
v/r Dread Pirate Rackham

"You know one things that's wrong with this country? Everybody gets a chance
to have their fair say." - President Clinton 28 May 1993

"There is nothing patriotic about hating your country, or pretending that
you can love your country but despise your government." - President Clinton
5 May 1995


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